Objectives

Goals

• Rapid design of new parallel-coordinates layouts for multidimensional timeseries.
• Ad-hoc, reconfigurable collaborative visualization environments.

Principles

• Clean, minimalist abstractions based on category theory.
• Efficient use of bandwidth and memory.
• Firewall friendly.
• Portability across hardware and software platforms.
• Low maintenance.

Layers

• A visualization language for expressing parallel-coordinates layouts and behaviors.
• Microservices for composing dataflows.
• A protocol buffer specification for embodying visual representations.
• Wire transport via WebSockets and/or Kafka.

Elements

• Dataset: Multidimensional data in a relational format.
• Presentation: The binding of visualizations with variables and animation.
• Containers: A grouping a layout.
  • Singleton: A single layout.
  • Array: A set of layouts.
  • Collection: A set of containers.
• Extent: The registration in 1D, 2D, or 3D of a container.
• Grid: A local unit coordinate system associated with axes, their labels, and their styling.
  • LineGrid: A 1D coordinate line.
  • RectangleGrid: A 2D plot.
  • BoxGrid: A 3D plot.
• Axis: Coordinate axes in 1D, 2D, or 3D associated with variables.
• Link: Parallel-coordinate linkages between axes.
  • Point: Data rendered as points and invisibly linked across a set of grids.
  • Polyline: Data rendered as polylines linked across an ordered set of grids.
• Styling: The colors for normal data, selected data, highlighted data, and the thickness of lines.

Semantics

• Each data record has an unique ID.
  • That record is rendered on each axis of each grid, according to the values of variables for the record.
• Selection and highlighting operate on all renderings of the record for the specified IDs, across all of the grids and axes.
• The type of linkages between grids determine how the record is rendered as points and/or polylines.
• A single variable can be flagged for use in animation.

Serialization

• The visualization language is defined as Haskell algebraic datatypes (ADTs).
• The visualization language is serialized as YAML or JSON, or in Haskell syntax.
• A compiler is available to transform datasets according to the language specification into a stream of protocol buffer messages.

Coordinates

• Each variable is scaled to [0,1] according to the dataset metadata.
• Each grid has a local [0,1] coordinate system for each of its axes.
• The extents of the grid define an affine transformations from the local coordinate system into the coordinate system of its container.
• Containers have their [0,1] coordinate systems and their own extents.
• Thus, the scene graph is a hierarchy of nested unit coordinate systems related by affine transformations.

Example Dataset

dataset            :
  datasetIdentifier: datasets/ENB2012.tsv
  variables        :
  - variableAlias  : Relative Compactness
    variableName   : Relative Compactness
    lowerBound     : 0.60
    upperBound     : 1.00
  - variableAlias  : Surface Area
    variableName   : Surface Area
    units          : m²
    lowerBound     : 500
    upperBound     : 825
  - variableAlias  : Wall Area
    variableName   : Wall Area
    units          : m²
    lowerBound     : 225
    upperBound     : 425
  - variableAlias  : Roof Area
    variableName   : Roof Area
    units          : m²
    lowerBound     : 100
    upperBound     : 225
  - variableAlias  : Overall Height
    variableName   : Overall Height
    units          : m
    lowerBound     : 3.25
    upperBound     : 7.25
  - variableAlias  : Orientation
    variableName   : Orientation
    units          : 2=N,3=E,4=S,5=W
    lowerBound     : 1.9
    upperBound     : 5.1
  - variableAlias  : Glazing Area
    variableName   : Glazing Area
    lowerBound     : -0.01
    upperBound     :  0.41
  - variableAlias  : Glazing Area Distribution
    variableName   : Glazing Area Distribution
    units          : 0=unknown,1=uniform,2=N,3=E,4=W,5=W
    lowerBound     : -0.01
    upperBound     :  5.01
  - variableAlias  : Heating Load
    variableName   : Heating Load
    units          : kWh/m²
    lowerBound     :  5
    upperBound     : 50
  - variableAlias  : Cooling Load
    variableName   : Cooling Load
    units          : kWh/m²
    lowerBound     :  5
    upperBound     : 50

Simple Example: 3D scatterplot

presentation           :
  uniqueKey            : Glazing Area Distribution
  containers           :
  - tag                : Singleton
    extent             :
      tag              : Extent3D
      origin           : [0, 0, 1]
      cornerX          : [1, 0, 1]
      cornerY          : [0, 0, 0]
      cornerZ          : [0, 1, 1]
    grid               :
      tag              : BoxGrid
      gridAlias        : heatingBox
      axes3D           :
      - axisVariable   : Wall Area
      - axisVariable   : Roof Area
      - axisVariable   : Heating Load
      divisions        : 5
      lineStyling      :
        normalColor    : 0x33333380
        selectColor    : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor : 0x660000CC
        thickness      : 0.010
      faceStyling      :
        normalColor    : 0x33333300
        selectColor    : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor : 0x660000CC
        thickness      : 0.010
      axisColor        : 0x1A993340
      axisSize         : 0.015
      labelColor       : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize        : 0.050
  links                :
  - tag                : Point
    linkAlias          : heatingScatterplot
    linkedGrid         : heatingBox
    styling            :
      normalColor      : 0x0000FFCC
      selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
      highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
      thickness        : 0.005

Complex Example: two 3D scatterplots, parallel planes, and parallel forest with animation

presentation             :
  animationKey           : Orientation
  uniqueKey              : Glazing Area Distribution
  containers             :
  - tag                  : Collection
    extents              :
    - tag                : Extent3D
      origin             : [0.05, 0.55, 0.05]
      cornerX            : [0.45, 0.55, 0.05]
      cornerY            : [0.05, 0.95, 0.05]
      cornerZ            : [0.05, 0.55, 0.95]
    - tag                : Extent3D
      origin             : [0.55, 0.55, 0.05]
      cornerX            : [0.95, 0.55, 0.05]
      cornerY            : [0.55, 0.95, 0.05]
      cornerZ            : [0.55, 0.55, 0.95]
    containeds           :
    - tag                : Singleton
      extent             :
        tag              : Extent3D
        origin           : [0, 0, 0]
        cornerX          : [1, 0, 0]
        cornerY          : [0, 1, 0]
        cornerZ          : [0, 0, 1]
      grid               :
        tag              : BoxGrid
        gridAlias        : heatingBox
        axes3D           :
        - axisVariable   : Wall Area
        - axisVariable   : Roof Area
        - axisVariable   : Heating Load
        divisions        : 10
        lineStyling      :
          normalColor    : 0x333333FF
          selectColor    : 0x666600CC
          highlightColor : 0x660000CC
          thickness      : 0.005
        faceStyling      :
          normalColor    : 0x33333300
          selectColor    : 0x666600CC
          highlightColor : 0x660000CC
          thickness      : 0.005
        axisColor        : 0x1A993340
        axisSize         : 0.010
        labelColor       : 0x1A9933FF
        labelSize        : 0.01
    - tag                : Singleton
      extent             :
        tag              : Extent3D
        origin           : [0, 0, 0]
        cornerX          : [1, 0, 0]
        cornerY          : [0, 1, 0]
        cornerZ          : [0, 0, 1]
      grid               :
        tag              : BoxGrid
        gridAlias        : coolingBox
        axes3D           :
        - axisVariable   : Wall Area
        - axisVariable   : Roof Area
        - axisVariable   : Cooling Load
        divisions        : 0
        lineStyling      :
          normalColor    : 0x666666CC
          selectColor    : 0x666600CC
          highlightColor : 0x660000CC
          thickness      : 0.005
        faceStyling      :
          normalColor    : 0x33333300
          selectColor    : 0x666600CC
          highlightColor : 0x660000CC
          thickness      : 0.005
        axisColor        : 0x1A993340
        axisSize         : 0.010
        labelColor       : 0x1A9933FF
        labelSize        : 0.01
  - tag                  : Array
    extents              :
    - tag                : Extent2D
      origin             : [0.1, 0.1, 0.1]
      cornerX            : [0.1, 0.1, 0.9]
      cornerY            : [0.1, 0.4, 0.1]
    - tag                : Extent2D
      origin             : [0.2, 0.1, 0.1]
      cornerX            : [0.2, 0.1, 0.9]
      cornerY            : [0.2, 0.4, 0.1]
    - tag                : Extent2D
      origin             : [0.3, 0.1, 0.1]
      cornerX            : [0.3, 0.1, 0.9]
      cornerY            : [0.3, 0.4, 0.1]
    - tag                : Extent2D
      origin             : [0.4, 0.1, 0.1]
      cornerX            : [0.4, 0.1, 0.9]
      cornerY            : [0.4, 0.4, 0.1]
    - tag                : Extent2D
      origin             : [0.5, 0.1, 0.1]
      cornerX            : [0.5, 0.1, 0.9]
      cornerY            : [0.5, 0.4, 0.1]
    grids                :
    - tag                : RectangleGrid
      gridAlias          : plane1
      axes2D             :
      - axisVariable     : Relative Compactness
      - axisVariable     : Surface Area
      divisions          : 5
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      faceStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x33333399
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : RectangleGrid
      gridAlias          : plane2
      axes2D             :
      - axisVariable     : Wall Area
      - axisVariable     : Roof Area
      divisions          : 5
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      faceStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x33333399
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : RectangleGrid
      gridAlias          : plane3
      axes2D             :
      - axisVariable     : Overall Height
      - axisVariable     : Orientation
      divisions          : 5
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      faceStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x33333399
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : RectangleGrid
      gridAlias          : plane4
      axes2D             :
      - axisVariable     : Glazing Area
      - axisVariable     : Glazing Area Distribution
      divisions          : 5
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      faceStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x33333399
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : RectangleGrid
      gridAlias          : plane5
      axes2D             :
      - axisVariable     : Heating Load
      - axisVariable     : Cooling Load
      divisions          : 5
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      faceStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x33333399
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
  - tag                  : Array
    extents              :
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.7, 0.1, 0.2]
      cornerX            : [0.7, 0.4, 0.2]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.7, 0.1, 0.4]
      cornerX            : [0.7, 0.4, 0.4]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.7, 0.1, 0.6]
      cornerX            : [0.7, 0.4, 0.6]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.7, 0.1, 0.8]
      cornerX            : [0.7, 0.4, 0.8]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.9, 0.1, 0.2]
      cornerX            : [0.9, 0.4, 0.2]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.9, 0.1, 0.4]
      cornerX            : [0.9, 0.4, 0.4]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.9, 0.1, 0.6]
      cornerX            : [0.9, 0.4, 0.6]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.9, 0.1, 0.8]
      cornerX            : [0.9, 0.4, 0.8]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.8, 0.1, 0.4]
      cornerX            : [0.8, 0.4, 0.4]
    - tag                : Extent1D
      origin             : [0.8, 0.1, 0.6]
      cornerX            : [0.8, 0.4, 0.6]
    grids                :
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line1
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Relative Compactness
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line2
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Surface Area
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line3
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Wall Area
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line4
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Roof Area
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line5
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Overall Height
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line6
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Orientation
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line7
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Glazing Area
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line8
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Glazing Area Distribution
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line9
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Heating Load
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
    - tag                : LineGrid
      gridAlias          : line10
      axes1D             :
        axisVariable     : Cooling Load
      divisions          : 10
      lineStyling        :
        normalColor      : 0x666666CC
        selectColor      : 0x666600CC
        highlightColor   : 0x660000CC
        thickness        : 0.005
      axisColor          : 0x1A993340
      axisSize           : 0.010
      labelColor         : 0x1A9933FF
      labelSize          : 0.01
  links                  :
    - tag                : Point
      linkAlias          : heatingScatterplot
      linkedGrid         : heatingBox
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FFCC
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Point
      linkAlias          : coolingScatterplot
      linkedGrid         : coolingBox
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FFCC
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelPlanes
      linkedGrids        : [plane1,plane2,plane3,plane4,plane5]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest1
      linkedGrids        : [line1,line9]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest2
      linkedGrids        : [line2,line9]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest3
      linkedGrids        : [line3,line9]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest4
      linkedGrids        : [line4,line9]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest5
      linkedGrids        : [line5,line10]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest6
      linkedGrids        : [line6,line10]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest7
      linkedGrids        : [line7,line10]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest8
      linkedGrids        : [line8,line10]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005
    - tag                : Polyline
      linkAlias          : parallelForest9
      linkedGrids        : [line9,line10]
      styling            :
        normalColor      : 0x0000FF33
        selectColor      : 0xCCCCCCFF
        highlightColor   : 0xFF0000FF
        thickness        : 0.005

Existing Microservices

• Rendering on a variety of VR, AR, and 2D devices:
  • WebGL/WebVR/WebXR client in JavaScript, using WebSockets.
  • OpenGL quadbuffer stereo client in Haskell, using Kafka or WebSockets.
• Visualization language:
  • Compiler in Haskell, using Kafka or WebSockets.
• Input devices in Go and Haskell, using Kafka or WebSockets.
• Patchboard in Go, using Kafka or WebSockets.
  • Connect streams.
  • Filter streams.
  • Multiplex streams.
  • Push pre-compiled data.
  • Record streams.

Wire Transport

• WebSockets
  • Two-way communication.
  • Widely supported, especially in web clients.
  • Firewall friendly.
  • Secure.
• Kakfa
  • Producer/consumer model.
  • Persistence and replay.
  • Redundancy, federation, and grouping of streams.
  • Firewall unfriendly.
  • Secure.

Patchboard Application

• The patchboard allows the wiring, multiplexing, and filtering of sources and sinks.
• WebSockets and Kafka streams may be mixed.
• Pre-compiled messages may be injected.
• Command-line application.
• The patchboard may be scripted or used interactively.

Patchboard Commands

sources
sinks
relays
delete [source|sink|relay]...

relay 'relay'
add-sink 'relay' [sink]...
add-source 'relay' [source]...
remove-sink 'relay' [sink]...
remove-source 'relay' [source]...
filter 'relay' [show] [message] [reset] [upsert] [delete] [view] [tool] [offset]
converter 'relay' [show] [view] [tool] [offset]

files 'source' [filename]...
append 'source' [filename]...
reset [source]...
absorber 'sink'
printer 'sink' (Request|Response)

websocket 'path'
serve 'address' 'path'
kafka 'address' [true|false] 'topic'

script [file]...
wait 'seconds'
silent
verbose
help
exit

Messaging

• Simple request/response pattern on typed channels.
• Only differences in state are transmitted (i.e., monoidal).
• The messaging specification is more expressive than the visualization language.
• Implemented in Protocol Buffers 3.
  • Near-universal language support.
  • Compact and efficient.
• Semantics:
  • Multiple frames.
  • Multiple objects in each frame.
  • Mixtures of primitives.
  • One viewpoint.
  • One tool.
  • One global offset.
  • One (perhaps composite) device with buttons and analog outputs.

Request Message

Any combination of the following:

• Set the visible frame to a particular number.
• Show a text message on the display.
• Clear the display.
• Insert and/or update geomtric objects.
• Delete geometric objects, using their unique IDs.
• Set the viewpoint.
• Set the location of the tool.
• Set the offset of the display relative to the global coordinate system.

Request Message

message Request {
  int32             show      = 1; // 0  = no change
  string            message   = 2; // "" = no change
  bool              reset     = 3;
  repeated Geometry upsert    = 4;
  repeated int64    delete    = 5;
  Location          viewloc   = 6;
  Location          toolloc   = 7;
  Location          offsetloc = 8;
}

Response Message

Any combination of the following:

• A specific frame was shown.
• A specific text message was displayed.
• The tool is starting to hover over the specified IDs.
• The tool is stoping to hover over the specified IDs.
• The specified IDs have been selected.
• The specified IDs have been deselected.
• THe viewpoint is at the specified location.
• The tool is at the specified location.
• The scene is offset relative to the global coordinate system.
• The specified buttons are depressed.
• The specified buttons are pressed.
• The specified buttons are released.
• The analog device has the specified values.

Response Message

message Response {
  int32           shown     =  1;
  string          message   =  2;
  repeated int64  hover     =  3;
  repeated int64  unhover   =  4;
  repeated int64  select    =  5;
  repeated int64  deselect  =  6;
  Location        viewloc   =  7;
  Location        toolloc   =  8;
  Location        offsetloc =  9;
  fixed32         depressed = 10;
  fixed32         pressed   = 11;
  fixed32         released  = 12;
  repeated double analog    = 13;
}

Geometry Message

• Primitives: sets of points, sets of polylines, sets of rectangles, a text label, an axis (line with arrow).
• Each object has an ID, but different primitive may share the same ID.
• Each object has a frame number specifying on when it will be visible.
• Objects have position, size, and color; points have glyphs.
• Messages specify changes in state, not absolute state.
• A message may simultaneously modify the objects in multiple frames.
• A message may simultaneously modify all of the primitive types.

Geometry Message

message Geometry {
  int32           fram =  1; // 0 = all
  int64           iden =  2;
  int32           type =  3; // 0 = all, 1 = points, 2 = polylines,
                             // 3 = rectangles, 4 = label, 5 = axis
  int32           mask =  4;
  repeated int32  cnts =  5;
  repeated double posx =  6; // mask = 00001b = 1
  repeated double posy =  7; // mask = 00001b = 1
  repeated double posz =  8; // mask = 00001b = 1
  double          size =  9; // mask = 00010b = 2
  fixed32         colr = 10; // mask = 00100b = 4
  string          text = 11; // mask = 01000b = 8
  int32           glyp = 12; // mask = 10000b = 16;
                             // 0 = cubes/boxes for points/polylines,
                             // 1 = spheres/cylinders
}

Location Message

Location is simply a vector and a quaternion.

message Location {
  double posx = 1;
  double posy = 2;
  double posz = 3;
  double rotw = 4;
  double rotx = 5;
  double roty = 6;
  double rotz = 7;
}

Next Steps

• Better management of selections.
• Web-based patchboard, sharable among distributed users.
• Migrate most input devices to Go and WebSockets.
• Revise semantics to address minor design flaws.
• Data provider for graph/network drawing.
• Complete Python support.
• R support.
• More documentation and examples.